The importance of aquarium fish nutrition.

Although there are many aspects to a home aquarium, if you have good aquarium filtration, the right number of fish in your tank plus the right nutrition for those aquarium fish, your maintenance requirements can be reduced and your pet fish will be very happy and healthy.
Nutrition is an area all pet fish owners need to consider when keeping an aquarium. There are two important reasons:

1. The health of your aquarium fish depends on it.
2. How often and what you feed your pet fish will have a significant impact on biological ecosystem in your aquarium.

Listed below are some of the problems of overfeeding:

• Cloudy water, results in an unpleasant tank to view.
• More fish waste, requiring extra maintenance and work.
• Algae growth, results in an unpleasant tank to view.
• Sick fish, could lead to fish dying and replacement costs.
• Uneaten food goes straight to waste and creates more work for you.

Find out how easy it is to feed aquarium fish properly »

Aquarium fish need nutrients to stay healthy similar to all other animals:

• Fatty acids (omega 3’s)
• Vitamins & minerals
• Proteins, which contain the essential amino acids
• Carbohydrates & fibre

Find a quality pet fish food and where you can buy it in our product listing »

Omega 3 fatty acids

Fishmeal is the best source for all essential amino acids and a rich source of fatty acids including omega 3’s, which play a major role in aquarium fish development.

Omega 3 fatty acids are both poly-unsaturated fatty acids found primarily in fishmeal and the fish oil.

Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency signs may include;

• Reduced growth rates and feed efficiency.
• Reduced resistance to bacterial infections.
• Fish distress.

Vitamins and minerals

Vitamins and minerals are needed in varying quantities and are dependant on the direct needs of the fish.

Vitamins play an important role in relation to growth and health benefits, better performance of the metabolic functions, and enhanced immune benefits.

Minerals play an important role in cellular membranes, components of soft tissues, blood and all structural constituents of bones, fins and scales. Fish will also absorb dissolved minerals from the water, either through the gills, fins and oral epithelia.

Proteins and Carbohydrates
Plant extracts play an important role with several plant proteins and grain by-products used on a regular basis in fish diets. Wheat contains nutrients essential for fish, and with proper thermal processing to enhance digestibility, they become a great source product for energy.

How to feed aquarium fish properly.

Overfeeding is a common problem amongst fish owners and especially those who can't bear to walk past the tank and see their little pets peering up at them with hungry eyes!
Fish who eat more than they need produce more waste too which builds up in their tank quickly and leads to water quality issues which affects their health.
If you follow these simple steps, you'll have healthy and happy fish.

• Feed a small portion first.
• Allow 30 seconds, see what is left.
• Feed a little bit more, if needed.
• Repeat process 3–4 times total.
• 1 minute after the last feed no food should be seen.
• The feeding process takes a few minutes.

Read more about health »

The problems caused by overfeeding aquarium fish.

• Excess waste in water.
• Possible algae growth.
• Fish become stressed.
• Potential disease.
• More cleaning and work on the tank.

Waste of money because fish won’t eat the food.